 Parker says that he has selected estates that produce wines of first growth quality that he feels are under-valued and therefore smart acquisitions. ‘The magical 20’ tasting to be held on November 8 at 10:30 am will showcase wines from 20 chateaux that one should watch as Parker´s tasting could have a tremendous impact in the trading of these Bordeaux wines, especially in Asia. This will be the first time that the impressive 2009 vintage, rated as one of the best in the history of Bordeaux, would be showcased at a public event since the wines have been bottled.
He will be accompanied by representatives from each of the chateaux, helping to describe the wines and the estates and answering questions from the audience. With an unprecedented opportunity to discuss the issues confronting the wine industry as well as tasting some of the world's finest wines, this tasting alone might be worth attending the 3-day conference.
The wines to be tasted are:
1. Ch. Cos D'Estournel
2. Ch. Ponte Canet,
3. Ch. Pichon Lalande
4. Ch. Léoville Poyferre,
5. Ch. Léoville Las Cases,
6. Ch. Palmer,
7. Ch. Malescot St. Exupéry,
8. Ch. Pape Clément,
9. Ch. Haut Bailly,
10. Ch. Angelus,
11.Ch. Trotanoy,
12. Ch. La Conseillante,
13. Ch. Pichon Baron,
14. Ch. Lynch-Bages,
15. Ch. Smith Haut Lafitte,
16. Ch. La Fleur-Petrus,
17. Ch. Clos Fourtet,
18.Ch. Rauzan-Ségla,
19.Ch. Brane-Cantenac,
20. Ch. Le Gay (Pommerol)
Beyond Bordeaux
 Even Robert Parker who is the undisputed world authority on Bordeaux wines would agree that there is an exciting life beyond Bordeaux. The famous British wine writer and author from UK, Jancis Robinson MW will conduct a tasting of wines on November 7 at 6 pm, from new and old world regions that deserve more attention for drinking, collecting and investing. These are very high quality wines coming from some of the more established wine regions plus a few from emerging markets such as Brazil, Turkey and China (India has been excluded for an apparent lack of interest and enthusiasm from Indians and the potential market for the wines in the near future).
Jancis is a visible supporter of the conference and the venue which she believes is the logical place. ‘I am not surprised that Pancho decided to take Winefuture to Hong Kong, after the successful edition in La Rioja in 2009, because the focus of the wine world is now so firmly on Asia. There is so much money to invest, and so much interest in wine in Asia.’
‘Jancis is so professional about her work that she has reportedly tasted the wines to be presented already and has made her personal tasting notes’, says Pancho, adding, ’she will also discuss how to communicate with wine consumers through social networks and the Internet in Europe. "The web has transformed my way of communicating about wines, particularly since I have my own website. I enjoy interacting with my 100,000+ followers on Twitter and wine producers and merchants ignore these new media at their peril”, she says.
The guided wine tasting by her will include:
1. Brazil - Geisse Brut 1998 (magnum)
2. Australia – Shaw and Smith M3 Chardonnay 2010 Adelaide Hills
3. Germany - Dr. Loosen, Erdener Treppchen Riesling Kabinett 2008 Mosel
4. Austria – Jurtschitsch, Schenkenbichl Grüner Veltliner Reserve Erste Lage 2009 Kamptal
5. Turkey - Kavaklidere, Prestige Öküzgözü 2008 Elazig
6. New Zealand - Felton Road, Cornish Point Vineyard 2010 Central Otago
7. Burgundy – Louis Jadot, Clos St Jacques Premier Cru 1990 Gevrey Chambertin
8. Piemonte – Gaja 2008 Barbaresco
9. Toscana - Antinori, Tignanello 2001 Toscana
10. China – Grace Vineyard, Tasya's Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2008 Shanxi
11. Chile - Almaviva 2005 Puente Alto
12. South Africa - Vergelegen 2000 Stellenbosch
13. Argentina - Catena Zapata Catena Alta Malbec 2000 Mendoza
14. Rhône – Tardieu Laurent, Cuvée Spéciale 2006 Châteauneuf-du-Pape
15. California – Ridge Monte Bello 1995
An unfortunate and blatant ommission in her tasting meant to ‘stimulate the taste buds with hand-picked selection from some corners of the wine world that deserve more attention’
is Portugal which makes besides Port, some excellent red and white wines from local grapes that would find a definite market in Asia. Macau is a duty free former Portuguese colony and one of the biggest importer of their wines. Greece could also have perhaps been included, especially when Bordeaux has 20 wines in the portfolio gives Jancis some scope to add to here has only 15 wines in the list.
Viva España
 Pancho Campo MW, President of The Wine Academy of Spain and organiser of the Conference will lord over perhaps the biggest Spanish wine tasting in the history with 13 wine regions represented and an expected audience of 1000 persons from 50 countries, tasting 16 wines. These regions include Rioja, Ribera del Duero, La Mancha, Rias Baixas, Toro, Sherry, Priorat, Cava, Empordá, Penedés, Valencia and Jumilla. Designated Pago wines (single vineyard exclusive wine estates that are equivalent of Grand Cru wines in Bordeaux) will also be part of the selection.
To reflect the passion of Spanish winemakers and the diversity of terroir of different wine regions, the event will be entitled ‘Spanish Wines: Passion and Diversity’. Pancho will take the audience through the main designations of origin of Spanish wines. ‘My presentation will be accompanied by interesting audiovisual material in order to transport the participants to the various regions, vineyards and wineries, so they can discover the immense quality and rich diversity of Spanish wine,’ says Pancho who will also highlight Spanish gastronomy in Asia.
Here is a List of Wines for the Spanish Tasting Event on November 6 at 6:15 pm
1. Pazo Señorans Albariño 2010 DO Rías Baixas
2. Gramona Celler Batlle 2001 DO Cava
3. Mas La Plana 2007 DO Penedés
4. Ferrer-Bobet 2008 DOQ Priorat
5. Castillo Perelada Finca Garbet 2005 DO Empordá
6. Pago de Cirsus Selección de Familia 2005 DO Navarra
7. Emeritus 2005 DO VdP Dominio de Valdepusa
8. Quincha Corral 2007 DO VdP Terrerazo
9. Barón de Chirel 2008 DOCa Rioja
10. Trasnocho 2004 DOCa Rioja
11. Finca El Bosque 2007 DOCa Rioja
12. Aalto PS 2005 DO Ribera del Duero
13. Termanthia 2006 DO Toro
14. Aquilon 2007 DO Campo de Borja
15. El Nido 2008 DO Jumilla
16. Amontillado del Duque VORS DO Sherry
Other Highlights
 In addition to the Grand Tastings there will be several wine celebrities at the conference including Francis Ford Coppola, guest of honour, Robert Joseph, Gary Vaynerchuk, Miguel Torres, Michel Rolland, Angelo Gaja, Michel Bettane, John Kapon, Christian Seely, Randall Grahm (Bonny Doon Vineyards), Steven Spurrier, Eduardo Chadwick (Errazuriz, Chile), Bernard de Laage (Chateau Palmer), and Nigel Greening. This group of wine celebrities will be accompanied by Asian specialists Don St. Pierre, Ian Ford, Carl Robinson, Yang Li, along with Masters of Wine Ned Goodwin, Jeannie Cho Lee, Debra Meiburg, and Lisa Perrotti-Brown. Also included in the list of speakers and representing India is Subhash Arora who will be in the Asian panel chaired by Meiburg.
There will be several interesting perspectives shared at the conference. For instance, Angelo Gaja believes that the greatest richness of Europe is neither in the appellations nor the terroirs but instead the world’s greatest number of craftsmen wine growers and wine makers who are the “yeasts” necessary to increase the quality of wine. He will talk about the emerging countries like China, India, Russia and Brazil which can count on increasing markets and building an important wine industry. Soon they will have their own consultants and develop their own wine vocabulary inspiried by their culture (and not adopted to the west). Whether these countries allow their craftsmen to be born and grow in future or will introduce other different models, is an interesting factor to watch for the future of wine.
Wine buffs and professionals all around the world who cannot be present at the conference of book for these optional tastings, can also follow the tasting online via live streaming on www.winefuture.hk which gives information regarding the conference, or www.madwine.tv.
Subhash Arora |